Versatile clip



NOV. 12, 1957 LONGINO 2,812,918

VERSATILE CLIP Filed April 15, 1954 32 HZJ Z5 24 "HIM 40 jaw INVENTQR.2% Ely/2A. Lwyma BY mymaz ATTD RN EYE VERSATILE CLIP Hugh A. Longino,ODonnell, Tex.

Application April 13, 1954, Serial No. 422,759

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-316) This invention relates to a clamp, and moreparticularly to a clamp for securing display material such as maps,charts and similar articles on a suitable stand.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamp which can be adjustedto securely hold charts and the like of various sizes on a stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamping assembly whichwill accommodate numerous display devices having various transversewidths and vertical lengths, and wherein maps, charts and other similardisplay devices can be conveniently supported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a display supportshowing the clamps thereon.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of the present invention,and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of one of the clamps, with partsbroken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 0 Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates each of apair of vertically disposed posts or rods, Figure 1, and mounted on theupper end of each of the posts 10 is a bushing 11. A horizontallydisposed bar 12 is secured to each of the bushings 11 in any suitablemanner, as for example by welding. Mounted on each end of each of thearms 12 is a bracket 15 which slidably engages the other arm or bar 12.Thus, the bracket 15 may be made by bending over pieces of metal so thatthey slidably engage the bars passing therethrough. This constructionprovides a strong connection and friction will maintain the bars 12 intheir adjusted positions so that accidental movement thereof will beprevented. Thus, this arrangement permits the posts 10 to be movedtowards and away from each other in order to accommodate charts or mapsor other similar articles of varying s1zes.

Adjustably mounted on each of the bars 12 is a clamp which is indicatedgenerally by the numeral 17, Figure 2. A pair of clamps 17 are adaptedto be used for securing display objects 13 which may be maps, charts orother similar articles. Each of the clamps 17 has the same constructionand each includes a body member 18 that can be made of any suitablematerial such as metal or plastic. Each of the body members 18 isprovided with a cutout 19, and seated in the cutout 19 is a jaw 20. Forsecuring the jaw 20 to the body member 18, the jaw is provided with apair of countersunk holes 23. A pair ite States Patent 0 2,812,918Patented Nov. 12, 1957 21 further includes a threaded shank 24 that isarranged in threaded engagement with a threaded socket 25 in the bodymember 18.

The outer surface of the jaw 20 is provided with a plurality ofserrations or teeth 26 and there is also provided a curved recess 27 inthe jaw 20 for a purpose to be later described.

Mounted for movement towards and away from the jaw 20 is a second jaw28. The jaw 28 has its inner surface provided with a plurality of teeth29 for coaction with the teeth 26 in order to securely clamp the displayarticle 13 therebetween. There is also provided an arcuate recess 30 inthe jaw 28, and the recess 30 is arranged opposite the recess 27 in thejaw 20.

A manually operable means is provided for moving the jaw 28 towards andaway from the jaw 20, and this means comprises a sleeve 31 which issecured to the jaw 28. The sleeve 31 is slidably mounted in a bore 32which is formed in the body member 18, and the sleeve 31 is hreadedinteriorly as at 33. A shaft 34 has a threaded portion arranged inthreaded engagement with the threaded interior 33 of the sleeve 31, andthe shaft 34 further includes a reduced diameter portion 35. A knurledknob 36 is mounted on the reduced diameter portion 35 by means of a pin37. Thus, by manually rotating the knurled knob 36, the shaft 34 will berotated to thereby cause the sleeve 31 to move back and forth in thebore 32 so that the jaw 28 can be moved towards and away from the jaw20. For preventing rotation of the sleeve 31, there is provided a slot38 in the upper end of the body member 18, and a pin 39 projects intothe slot 38 and is secured to the sleeve 31. Thus, the pin 39 permitsthe sleeve 31 to move back and forth longitudinally in the bore 32 butprevents rotation of the sleeve.

The body member 18 is further provided with a recess 40 which slidablyreceives a complemental bar 12.

Thus, the bar 12 projects through the recess 40 and the clamp 17 can beslid or moved along the bar 12 so that the article 13 can be supportedregardless of its width. Openings 41 and 42 are provided in the bodymember 18 so that the ends of curtain type roller maps, charts and otherobjects may be received in these openings and supported when desired.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided aclamping assembly which will securely hold in place articles 13 whichmay be maps, charts or the like. In use, the distance between the posts10 can be adjusted as desired by moving the posts 10 to the desiredposition. Next, the clamps 17 can be mounted on the bars 12 by removingthe pins or screws 21 and then positioning the clips so that the recess40 receives the bars 12 after which the jaw 20 can be secured in placeby means of the pins or screws 21 whereby the clips will be maintainedon the bars. The clamps 17 can be ad justed on the bars 12 to thedesired position. To clamp the article 13 in the clamps, it is onlynecessary to manually rotate the knobs 36 whereby the shaft 34 will berotated to thereby cause longitudinal displacement of the sleeve 31 inthe bore 32. As the sleeve 31 moves the jaw 28 will move therewith sincethese two parts are secured together or are of integral construction.After the jaw 28 has been moved away from the jaw 20 a sufficientdistance to receive the article 13 being supported, the knob 36 can berotated in the opposite direction to thereby move the jaw 28 towards thejaw 20 so that the teeth 29 and 26 will securely clamp the article 13there between. The coacting or opposed recesses 38 and 27 can be usedfor accommodating support rods of cylindrical construction and suchsupport rods may have connected thereto maps, charts or other displaymaterial.

The assembly of the present invention can be used for supportingteaching aids, exhibits, black boards, game boards and advertisingmaterial. Also, bulletin boards can be supported thereon as well asscreens or various articles around a home. The articles being supportedare suspended and supported by the pair of clips.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

In a clamp, a body member provided with a cutout, a first jaw seated insaid cutout and provided with a plurality of countersunk holes, screwseach having a head seated in said holes and said screws having threadedshanks arranged in threaded engagement with sockets in said body member,said first jaw having a face being provided with a plurality of teethand an arcuate recess, there being a bore in said body memberperpendicular to said face, a sleeve slidably mounted in said bore andprovided with a threaded interior portion, a shaft projecting into saidbore and having a portion threadedly engaging the threaded interior ofsaid sleeve, said shaft 1 including a reduced diameter end portion, aknurled knob mounted on said reduced diameter end portion for retainingthe shaft against longitudinal movement, rotating said shaft and therebycausing longitudinal displacement of said sleeve in said bore, a secondjaw carried by said sleeve and provided with teeth thereon, there beingan arcuate recess in said second jaw arranged in opposed relation withrespect to the recess in said first jaw, said body member being providedwith a recess for slidably receiving a bar, the upper surface of saidbody member being provided with a slot through the wall of said bore,and a pin arranged in engagement with said sleeve and projecting intosaid slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS702,285 Cook June 10, 1902 833,613 Maiser Oct. 16, 1906 986,112 WoodMar. 7, 1911 1,231,496 Clugston June 26, 1917 1,260,505 Block Mar. 26,1918 1,408,933 Craig Mar. 7, 1922 1,482,308 Lieberenz Ian. 29, 19241,586,408 Champaux May 25, 1926 1,659,576 Brady et al. Feb. 21, 1928FOREIGN PATENTS 663,283 Great Britain of 1951

